UQ teachers receive national awards

26 September 2014

The University of Queensland’s teachers and lecturers have been recognised as among the best in Australia, receiving four Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in the 2014 Australian Awards for University Teaching.

Three lecturers and a team of teaching staff will each receive a $10,000 prize at the Queensland Citation Awards ceremony in Brisbane on September 29.

“These annual citations recognise the efforts of UQ teachers to inspire and encourage their students by using innovative teaching techniques and often the latest technology and by examining and improving previously accepted methods,” Professor Wright said.

“Receiving such a high national honour recognises the importance of great teachers in our university and in the learning experiences of our students.

“Dr Lea, Dr Robinson, Dr Zhu and the French Team have inspired and supported their students to learn more and learn more effectively. They, and their students, have helped to consolidate UQ’s international reputation as a leading university. I offer my warmest congratulations and thanks for all their efforts.”

Details of UQ’s Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning in the 2014 Australian Awards for University Teaching:

Dr Bronwyn Lea has received her citation for inspiring and supporting students to deepen their appreciation and understanding of poetry praxis and scholarship.

Dr Lea is a respected Australian poet and critic and has used her experience to redesign curriculum and create a popular undergraduate course. She ensures her students have practical learning experiences in the field by offering internships with poetry publications and has created a program of master classes with visiting international poets.

Dr Richard Robinson was cited for his efforts to motivate students towards successful leadership roles in the hospitality industry by providing them with practical and authentic learning experiences, bridging the theory-practise divide.

Dr Robinson connects students with the wider hospitality industry by conducting field trips, sourcing knowledgeable guest lecturers and developing case studies with leading international hoteliers to ensure students have a wide range of experiences to draw on.

Dr Yunxia Zhu has received her citation for promoting intercultural competence and understanding among her students by adopting a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach.

Dr Zhu created the Situated Cultural Learning Approach, which is used across eight courses at the UQ Business School and has been recognised with consistently high feedback from students, staff and industry peers.

The UQ French Team was cited for their efforts to empower students to become independent learners who excel beyond the classroom, using their language skills in real-world situations.